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Welcome to the September 2008 issue of "Lyons Training 101," written by John Lyons Certified Trainer Keith Hosman. (Yep, September - I've spent the last week learning new stuff from John Lyons up in Colorado, so we're running a tad late. This issue incorporates some of those new tips and tricks.) The October release will follow in a few weeks.
You know how you can look at a rider and tell whether they've been riding for years or just started yesterday? Novice riders ride with their heels up and lean forward, sure - but what's the dead give away? The way they hold their reins. Specifically, how they pick up the reins and how they release the reins.
Same goes for riders who have reached a plateau. If we need to change in order to see a change in our horses, then "rein handling" might be something for even the more advanced rider to practice.
And nervous riders? Staying safe has everything to do with having the muscle memory it takes to swing into action when your horse freaks out.
So, let's get started: This month's featured article, "How to Pick Up Your Reins Like a Pro," explains the specifics of "rein mechanics," how to smoothly pick up those reins, how to make it feel natural, how to feel more in control.
You'll find the article sampled below. To read it in its entirety, simply follow the link provided. If the links don't work or you're not getting the emails properly, scroll to the bottom of this page.
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KEEPING SAFE : After hearing of some pretty scary rider accidents lately, I decided to do our families a favor and post links to various pieces of horse & rider safety equipment hoping to spur my readers to buy that new helmet or riding vest they'd been putting off. Listings include:
- Breakaway/safety stirrups
- Helmets
- Safety vests, ties and halters
The link provided here leads directly to a page on my site, which in turn leads to live listings on eBay, where you'll find some pretty darn good deals on products designed to keep us safer in the saddle and around the barn.
To peruse the listing of recommended products, visit: Horsemanship101.com/Safety/Products.html
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Jump to the full version of this month's featured article: "How to Pick Up Your Reins Like a Pro"
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Here's the fastest way on the planet to radically change the quality of your next ride. We're talking night vs. day forever-lasting results with maybe an hour's worth of practice. But wait – there's more! Besides improving your everyday training, there's an added benefit: Much improved safety. Practicing the nuts and bots of "rein handling" in the quiet of an evening, spending long enough to build a bit of "muscle memory," will go a long way to helping you out the next time you get out on the trail and your horse whigs out.
A lot of our riding fear comes from not knowing "what to do if." People get scared, they panic and grab up the reins. They freeze with six billion pounds of pressure on the horse's face. Frozen hands cork up all that horse energy, trap a prey animal – and beg for an explosion. Instead, for safety sake, drill this stuff into your brain until the movements become second nature. Your natural reaction will then be to keep your horse flowing, thereby dissipating his "negative" energy. And you'll boost your confidence quicker than you can say "They billed me how much for the ambulance?"
Horses toss their heads, get stiff through the neck and grumpy, slide in their training and just plain hate the site of the riding arena because of... your hands. Want to learn the fastest way to improve your training? Improve the way you handle your reins. We're talking the way you pick them up, how long you hold them, how much pressure you apply and how you release. When you attend one of my clinics and walk away thinking I walk on water at the end of the following day, it's simply because I've hammered you on the proper way to pick up and release those reins. Over and over and over because that's where we'll see the quickest improvement.
I was able to promise "lasting results" in that first paragraph for one simple reason: It's you that makes the change, not your horse. If you want to see a change in your horse, you have to first make a change yourself. You don't have to concern yourself with whether your horse got up on the right side of the stall – the quality of your ride is totally in your hands, so to speak. See, without realizing it, the odds are pretty good that...
keep reading this article
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"Round Pen: First Steps"
- Spook In Place, Pick Up Feet
- Come To You, Sacking Out
- Bonus: Trailer Training Using a Round Pen
- Print from home in 2 minutes, be training in 5!
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Now Get Any Two: Trailer Training, Stop Bucking, Rein In Your Speed, or Round Penning
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If you're having trouble with links and want to continue reading today's edition, you'll find all issues listed here:
http://www.horsemanship101.com/Newsletter
Just cut and paste that into your browser window.
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If you're using IE7 and links don't work in your emails from anybody anymore, try this: Start up Internet Explorer and select Tools > Internet Options > Programs > Reset Web Settings
That has worked for most folks. You can also try this page for further suggestions:
http://www.horsemanship101.com/
John-Lyons-Trainer-Clinics/technical2.html
You'll need to cut and paste that address into your browser window. Make sure to include both lines of that URL with no spaces.
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If some of our emails reach you and some don't, here are some suggestions.
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4 Trick Videos!
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- 4 Different DVDs Make Teaching Tricks a Cinch! $39.95 each |
Find Trainers
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State-by-state listings, including those certified by John Lyons, Parelli & Richard Shrake at
Local Horse Trainers
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John Lyons Reins
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- Get the same reins we use in our clinics for $41.99
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Get the bit John recommends $38.99 |
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Training by Topic
Find answers fast:
- rider confidence
- young horses
- trail riding
- bucking, rearing
- tying/pulling back
see 300 more topics |
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Bucking Horse?
My Downloadable Book "Stop Bucking" can help!
Here's a sample
from Day Five:
"Is this you? You think your horse is about to slow down so you give him a good kick? That makes sense to you - but the horse figures he got kicked for no good reason. You’ll burn out your “move faster” cue quick that way. I need you to start thinking and riding differently.
Instead, continue this exercise by walking your horse forward and asking it to speed up; demand a “noticeable change of leg speed.” If your horse was traveling at 4 mph, ask for faster and make sure he does just that. It’s not a maybe it’s a definitely. If he doesn’t speed up, kick until he does. If he breaks into the next higher gait, ease him back down and keep trying.
If your horse begins to slow down on his own when you travel 30 feet at the increased speed, then ask him to slow down the next time at 28 feet. It’s key that you ask for the slow down - it’s not supposed to be his idea. Remember, you don’t want to be in the habit of kicking him when you “think” he’s going to slow down so you’ve got to make the first move. Ask him to slow a moment before you think he was going to slow down anyway. You’ll concentrate on...
To read more, see this page
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Also available:
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"Rein In/Speed"
"Round Pen"
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